Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been forced to extend the shutdown of its UK manufacturing operations following a cyberattack on August 31. The Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack has halted vehicle production across multiple facilities and impacted its global supply chain, with disruptions reaching as far as Slovakia, China, and India.
The data breach at Jaguar Land Rover led the company to shut down its internal IT systems in an effort to contain the attack and protect its networks. As of early this week, the company’s UK plants, including Halewood, Solihull, and the Wolverhampton engine facility, are expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday, though JLR has not confirmed when operations will fully resume.
JLR Production Comes to a Standstill
The Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack has had a widespread impact, not only halting production but also affecting dealerships and repair services. Vehicle registration systems were rendered inoperable, and garages reported difficulties sourcing parts. While some temporary workarounds have been established, full functionality has yet to be restored.
Under regular conditions, Jaguar Land Rover produces approximately 1,000 vehicles per day. The sudden stoppage has placed strain on parts suppliers and service providers across its global supply network. Shaun Adams, manager at Qualplast, a supplier for JLR, told the BBC that the disruption is already significant and could escalate. “If this starts progressing over weeks, then we would have to seriously look at what we need to future-proof,” he said.
Many of JLR’s suppliers have followed suit in instructing staff to remain at home, further compounding the operational and economic fallout from the data breach at Jaguar Land Rover.
The timing of the cyberattack added further complications. It occurred just before September 1, a key date for new car registrations in the UK, typically one of the busiest periods for automotive sales and deliveries. The inability to register new vehicles during this time likely introduced additional setbacks for both the company and consumers.
Jaguar Land Rover Response and Investigation
In response to the attack, Jaguar Land Rover has been working “around the clock” alongside third-party cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies to restore its systems in a safe and controlled manner. However, the company has not publicly commented on growing speculation that the disruption could last several more weeks.
Jaguar Land Rover has declined to confirm whether sensitive data was accessed or whether ransom demands have been made. However, the company remains in active investigation mode and has acknowledged the ongoing threat of further disruption.
Hacker Group Claims Responsibility
Reports have surfaced that a group of English-speaking hackers, believed to be responsible for prior attacks on UK firms such as Marks & Spencer, has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover. The group allegedly posted messages and screenshots on the encrypted app Telegram, suggesting that they had gained unauthorized access to JLR’s internal systems.
The full extent of the Jaguar Land Rover data breach remains under investigation, and it is not yet clear if personal or financial data was compromised. The cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover stresses the increasing vulnerability of large industrial companies to digital threats.
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